Machine for lifting stones, &amp;c., and transporting same.



PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

T. TRUDEAU. MACHINE FOR LIPTING STONES, 620., AND TRANSPORTING SAME.

=====Emi|%%% APPLICATION FILED 1030.17, 1904.

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NITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TRUDEAU, OF PIERCEBRIDGE, NEW'HAMPSHIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,961, dated J uly 18, 1905.

Application filed December 1'7, 1904. Serial No. 237,230.

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TrIoMAs TRUDEAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piercebridge, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Lifting Stones or other Heavy Bodies and Transporting the Same, of which the following is a specifieation. This invention relates to machines for lifting stones or other heavy bodies and transporting the same, and is designed as an improvement upon the device shown, described, and claimed in Patent No. 677,507, issued July 2, 1901, to F. Gothier.

The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of machines for lifting and transporting stones or other heavy bodies and to render the same more efficient in operation.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, parts in vertical section, showing a machine for lifting and transporting stones or other heavy bodies and embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a broken detail view, in transverse section, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a detail view, in transverse section, across the chain-drum on the line 4: 4: of Fig. 2.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the patent to Gothicr', above referred to, is shown, described, and claimed a construction of machine for lifting and transporting stones or other heavy bodies and embodies in its essential characteristics a frame sup ported upon wheels and having adrum transversely journaled in the frame, to which a lifting-chain is connected, said drum carrying a ratchet-wheel for rotatively actuating the same, said ratchet-wheel being operated by means of pawls connected to a pivoted lever, and when the ratchet-Wheel is thus actuated the lifting-chain is Wound upon the chaindrum, a stone or other heavy body connected to said chain by grappling or other hooks being thereby lifted and raised, whereby the machine may be propelled from place to place and the stone or other heavy body transported as may be desired and again deposited upon the ground by releasing the ratchet-wheel and permitting the weight of the stone or other body to reversely rotate the drum upon which the lifting-chain is wound. The present invention relates to an apparatus of this same general nature and embodies certain improvements and developments thereon which render the same more eflicient in operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference-sign A designates side bars of a framework, said side bars extending horizontally and in parallel relation with respect to each other, being connected or supported at the front end thereof upon an upright standard B, suitably supported upon an axle-bar C. The axle-bar G is supported upon an axle D, upon which are mounted wheels E. A tongue F is suitably (and preferably pivotally) connected to the axle-bar. In practice I prefer to mount the upright standard B in a casting G, having a journal bearing in a bracket H, mounted on the axle-bar C, and upon a vertical axis, whereby the axleDmay be rocked or swung laterallyas, for instance, when the machine is turned. At their rear ends the side bars A are respectively connected to upright standards J, suitably supported upon an axle-bar K, the latter mounted upon an axle L, upon which are mounted the wheels M, constituting the rear wheels of the carriage. The standards J project or extend above the side bars A and may be suitably braced in any suitable manner. I have shown brace-bars N, connected at their front ends on opposite sides of the upright standard B and at their rear ends to the upright standards J. These brace-bars N may be connected across the machine to strengthen the same in any suitable manneras, for instance, by the transverse bars 0. Similarly the side frames A may be suitably braced to the rear axle-barKin any convenient manneras, for instance, by means of brace-bars P, connected, respectively, to the frame-bars A and to the axle-bar Kand, if desired, the uprights J may be suitably braced to each other, as indicated, by the brace-bars R. Suitably journaled in journal-boxes S, mounted upon the frame-bars A, is a drum T, which I will designate the lifting-drum. Mounted upon to rotate with drum T is a ratchet-wheel A,

. having peripheral ratchet-teeth,and also a friction-disk B.

Q designates the ratchet-actuating lever. This lever is pivotally mounted upon a bracket D, the latter being pivotally mounted upon brace-bar P. If desired, the point of pivotal connection of lever C to bracket D may be adjusted in any convenient manner, so as to vary or adjust the extent of operation of the ratchet-pawls operated therefrom. I have shown a simple arrangement" for accomplishing this result, but to which I do not desire to be limited, wherein the lever G or the bracket D, or both of these parts, may be provided with a series of holes, through which passes the pivot-pin by which the lever G and bracket Dare pivotally connected.

E F designate ratchet-pawls pivotally connected to the lever C on opposite sides, re, spect1vely, of the point of pivotal connection of said lever with bracket D, said pawls be- 1ng arranged to engage the ratchet-teeth of ratchet-wheel A, whereby in the operation of the machine to lift a stone or other body when the lever C is rocked in one.direction one of the pawls E or F will operatively engage a tooth of ratchet-wheel A to rotatively move the same through an extent dependent upon the throw of lever C while the other ratchetpawl rides idly over the teeth of said ratchet- Wheel, and when the lever O is rocked in the opposite direction the reverse of the above operation takes place.

G designates a lifting-chain having one end thereof suitably connected to the lifting-drum T and connected at the other end to the stone or other heavy body to be lifted or transported. In practice I prefer to adjustabl y connect the end of the chain G to the drum T, so that such point of connection maybe adusted along or lengthwise of said drum T. This result may be accomplished in many specifically different ways. I have shown one form for accomplishing the desired object, but to which I do not desire to be limited or restricted and wherein I provide the drum T with a slot, (indicated at H,) which, if desired,

and, as shown, may be a dovetail groove ex tending longitudinally of drum T and in which 15 received an adjustable block J, to which the end of the chain may be attached. The block J may be adjusted to any desired position along drumT and locked or held in such position in any convenient manneras, for instance, by means of set-screw K. (See Fig. 3.) The lifting-chain G may be connected to the object to be lifted or transported in any suitable or convenient manner. In the particular form shown, to which my invention is not to be limited or restricted, I employ grappling or other hooks L, arranged to engage the stone or other body to be lifted and connected through chains M with the end of lifting-chain G. If desired, and in order to prevent undue swaying laterally of the stone or other body (indicated at 0) during the transportation thereof from place to place without being elevated or raised above the surface of the ground, I may provide suitable steadying connections arranged to extend between the lifting-chain and the side frames or braces of the machine. I have shown such arrangement wherein a chain P is connected to the end of lifting-chain G, to which the weight or other body to be lifted is connected, said steadyingchains'P being connected to the brace-bars P on opposite sides of the machine in any convenient manner-as, for instance, by being passed through rings or staples Q suitably bolted or otherwise'secured to said brace-bars P, said steadying-chains having hooked ends R, whereby said steadyingchains may be lengthened or shortened, as may be desired. In operation these steadying-chains serve to prevent swaying laterally of the stone or other body being transported and after beinghoisted or raised from the ground.

After the stone or other body has been raised or hoisted and while being transported by the machine it is desirable to relieve the liftingpawls E F of the strain which would be imposed thereon by the weight of the stone or other body operating through the liftingchain, the hoisting-drum, and the ratchetwheel. .To accomplish this result, I employ a brake-chain S, suitably connected or secured at one end to a convenient part of the frame- Work-as, for instance, the brace-bar N -and designed to be passed around a spoke or other convenient part of the ratchet-wheel, and at its free end detachably connected by a trip-hook A or otherwise to a ring or link, also connected to the brace-bar N or other convenient part of the framework. In this manner the pawls, and hence the ratchet-teeth, may be relieved ofstrain during the transportation of the stone or other body. When the brake-chain S is not required for use, it may be conveniently held out of the way by a link or other retaining device, (indicated at B W hen it is desired to lower the stone or other heavy body upon arrival at the destination thereof, the pawls E F may be detached from engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel A and the.

brake-chain S detached, thereby permitting the weight of the stone or other body to cause the hoisting-chain G to unwind from the drum T. In such event, however, when the brake-chain is released or tripped the stone or other body would fall violently to the ground, which is objectionable. It is among the special objects and purposes of my invention to provide means for preventing this, and to that end I provide the friction or brake disk B and mount the same upon to rotate with hoisting-drum T, and I arrange a brake-strap C to encircle the brake-disk B, said brake-strap provided with wooden blocks D upon the inner surface thereof in an ordinary manner to bear against the periphery of friction or brake disk B. To one end of this brake-strap G I connect one end of a lever E pivotally mounted upon alink F suitably connected to a convenient part of the frameworkas, for instance, the adjacentside brace-bar N. By suitably manipulating the lever E any desired degree of friction or braking effort may be applied to the frictiondisk B, thereby holding the drum T against rotation, and hence sustaining the stone or other body, even after the brake-chain S is tripped, and with the ratchet-pawls E F released from engagement with the ratchet-disk A. Then by relieving the lever E or the braking effort applied thereby through the brake-strap the stone or other body may be eased down to the ground.

The. pawls E F may be released from engagement with the teeth of ratchet -disk A in any convenient manner-as, for instance, by means of a lever G conveniently pivoted upon a suitable part of the framework and connected by a rod or other connection H to said pawls. By rocking or swinging said lever G the pawls may be rocked out of engaging relation with respect to the teeth of ratchet-wheel A.

Ifdesired, and in order to sustain the tongue F of the machine so as to relieve the necks of the horses employed to haul the machine of the weight of such tongue, I propose to employ a chain J and connect the same at one end. to the tongue F and at the other end to a convenient part of the framework of the machine-as, for instance, through a hook K connected to the tongue, and a link L connected to the upright standard B.

It is believed the operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description and may be stated to be generally as follows: The machine is driven or propelled to a point over the stone or other heavy body to be lifted or transported. The pawls E F are released from engagement with the teeth of ratchet-wheel A and the lifting-chain overhauled or unwound from the lifting-drum T sufficiently to enable the hooks or other engaging devices L to engage the stone or other body to be lifted and transported. The pawls E I1" are then engaged with the teeth of ratchetdisk A and the lever C manipulated so as to rotate ratchet-wheel A and the drum T in its bearings S, thereby winding up the chain G on said drum, and hence raising the stone or other body from the ground. After the stone or other body has been raised to a sufficient height the side chains or connections I are applied to prevent undue lateral swinging of the weight or other body O. The brakechain S is then applied to lock or hold the brake-wheel A and hoisting-drum T against reverse rotation, and the lifting-pawls E F are raised out of engagement with the teeth of ratchet-wheel A. The machine is then propelled or driven to the point where theload, stone, or other body is to be deposited. The brake-lever E is then manipulated to apply a braking effort to friction-disk B, the brakechain S is tripped, and the stone or other body is eased down to the ground by properly manipulating the brake-lever E Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof,I desire it to be understood that variations, alterations, and changes in the details thereof would readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described.

What I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described, a supporting-frame, supporting-wheels therefor, a hoisting drum journaled in said frame, a ratchet-wheel mounted to rotate with said drumfa hoisting-chain having connection at one end with said drum, actuating-pawls for said wheel, and a detachable brake-chain arranged to engage said ratchet-wheel to support or sustain the weight of the body to be lifted or transported.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame, supporting-wheels therefor, a hoistingdrum journaled in said frame, a ratchet-wheel mounted on said drum, a hoisting-chain connected at one end to said drum, a pivotallymounted lever, pawls connected theretofor engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and means for adjusting the point of pivotal support of said lever to vary the stroke of the ratchet-pawls.

3. In a machine of the class described, a frame,supporting-Wheels therefor, a hoistingdrum journaled in said frame, a ratchet-wheel mounted thereon, a link or bracket, a lever having adjustable pivotal connection with said link or bracket, and ratchet-pawls connected to said lever and arranged to engage the teeth of said ratchet-wheel.

4:. In a machine of the class described, a framework, supporting-wheels therefor, a hoisting-drum, a hoisting-chain connected at one end to said drum, means for rotating said drum to wind the chain thereon, engaging devices connected to said chain and adapted to engage the body to be lifted or transported, and steadying devices extending from said engaging devices to opposite sides of the framework to prevent lateral swaying of the body being hoisted or transported.

5. In a machine of the class described, a framework, supporting-wheels 1 therefor, a drum journaled to rotate in said framework, a ratchet-wheel for rotating said drum a hoisting-chain connected at one end to said drum, engaging devices connected to the other end of said chain and adapted to engage the stone or other body to be lifted or transported, steadying-chains connected to said hoistingchain and extending to opposite sides of the framework, means for adjusting the length of said steadying-chains, and means for actuating said ratchet-wheel.

6. In a machine of the class described, a framework, supporting-wheels therefor, a hoisting-drum journaled in said framework, a ratchet-wheel mounted thereon, a hoistingchain, adjustable connections between one end of said chain and said hoisting-drum, engaging devices connected to the free end of said chain, and means for actuating said ratchetwheel.

7. In a machine of the class described, a' framework, supporting-wheels therefor, a hoisting-drum journaled in said framework and provided with a longitudinal slot, a block adjustably mounted in said slot, a hoistingchain having one end connected to said block, engaging devices connected to the free end of said chain, a ratchet-wheel mounted on said drum, and means for actuating said ratchetwheel.

8. In a machine of the class described, a framework, supporting-wheels therefor, a hoisting-drum journaled in said framework, a ratchet-wheel and a brake-wheel mounted on to rotate with said drum, ratchet-pawls for operating said ratchet-wheel, a brake-strap applied to said brake-wheel, a lever connected to said brake-strap for applying the same, means for operating said pawls, and means for detaching said pawls from engaging relation with respect to said ratchet-wheel.

9. In a machine of the class described, a framework, supporting-wheels therefor, a hoisting-drum journaled in said framework, a ratchet-wheel and a brake-wheel mounted on to rotate with said drum, a lever pivotally mounted upon the framework, pawls connected to said lever and arranged to engage the teeth of said ratchet-wheel for operating the same, a brake-strap applied to said brakewheel, a lever pivotally mounted upon said framework andconnected to said brake-strap, and a lever pivotally mounted upon the framework and connected to said pawls to disengage the same from said ratchet-wheel, a hoisting-chain connected at one end to said drum, and engaging devices connected to said hoisting-chain.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 12th day of December, 1904, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS TRUDEAU.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. MITCHELL, M. S. PRINCE. 

